Weekend brunch at Watermark

Everyone loves a good long boozy brunch, and in Hong Kong we aren’t short of options! After reviewing Watermark last year for dinner, I decided to put their brunch to the test.

I love the setting at Watermark. Sitting above the Star Ferry pier in Central, you can ogle the impressive view of TST harbour and watch the Star Ferry making its journey to and from the dark side – though beware of the slight shaking that occurs every time the ferry docks!

Watermark’s brunch costs $338 (or $488 including free-flow sparkling wine), for which you can feast to your heart’s content on a wide array of buffet items and order main courses from the brunch menu. It’s a wise idea to realise that main courses are included BEFORE you gorge on the dessert buffet, as otherwise you may be eating your meal in a very higgledy-piggledy order… like I did!

The buffet ranges from oysters, to sushi, to dim sum, to lasagne, to hot pot noodles, to roast beef, to cheesecake, to waffles…. I wasn’t sure where to begin!

Highlights of round one included Parma ham and melon (one of my all-time favourite combinations), potato and mackerel salad, Greek salad (the Feta is particularly tasty), devilled eggs and poached salmon. But I was not fond of the grilled vegetables, as they seemed to be doused in vinegar, nor of the strange fish rolls (I could barely cut through the skin).

The chilli con carne lasagne was interesting, a winning dish combining two of my favourite comfort foods. However, the problem with making a large quantity of lasagne and leaving it sitting in a heated container is that it will soon become mushy and stodgy.

Aside from the desserts, the roast beef was by far my favourite part of the buffet as the meat was deliciously tender and full of flavour. My only complaint is that as we were served a cut from the end of the first hunk of beef, it was a little colder than I would have liked. Pair the beef with the sautéed potatoes, add a drizzle of gravy and you have perfection on a plate.

From the main menu, we tried the foie gras with apricot chutney and toasted brioche. The foie gras was wonderfully smooth and I particularly liked the way the sweetness of the apricot balanced the fattiness of the liver. The Spanish tortilla, also from the main menu, was nothing special apart from the addition of the smooth guacamole and sour cream. Not exactly a ‘Spanish’ omelette, but never mind.

The main highlight for me was the dessert buffet. I did a round of the restaurant before eating anything just to see what was on offer and I immediately knew I needed to save space for dessert. The dessert I really didn’t enjoy was the chocolate mousse cake; the flavour of the chocolate was heavily masked by far too much of what I assume must have been rum. The best desserts for me were the apple filo tart that was delicately spiced with cinnamon, the freshly made waffle and the banana custard crepe. Oh and of course the chocolate fountain!

If I were to compare Café Deco brunches, I’d have to say I prefer the food and the experience at Top Deck, although that doesn’t mean to say I didn’t enjoy (and fully make the most of!) Watermark’s brunch. And anyway, who’s comparing? Watermark is a classy spot, located atop one of the most important landmarks in HK; the waiters are friendly, the view is impressive and the value for money, provided you eat your money’s worth (and roll out afterwards!), is great. Try going on a Saturday to avoid an unpleasant champagne-induced hangover come Monday morning!

Watermark’s brunch is available Saturday, Sundays and public holidays, 11.30am-3.30pm. It costs $338 (add $150 for free-flow sparkling wine) for adults and $160 for children aged 3 to 11.